Half a side of pork from yesterday’s slaughter was still left. After opening the shop, he hung it up properly. The cages held chickens and ducks. He moved the table to the entrance, arranging the knives and chopping block, waiting for customers.
Someone came to buy an old hen. He tied it up and handed it over, accepting the payment with a polite, "Auntie, take care."
The sky remained gray, and the wind picked up. He covered the meat on the rack with cloth to prevent dust from settling on it.
Even dressed warmly, sitting in the shop was still cold. He warmed his hands on the tangpozi Lu Gu had given him before leaving. When he looked up again, he noticed scattered snowflakes drifting outside.
The first snow of early winter. As he watched, he wondered how their Lingjun would react when the snow grew heavier. Last year, the child was too young and had barely stepped outside, so he’d never seen snow before.
The streets weren’t crowded, but there were still people out making a living. Ox carts and mule carts passed by occasionally, the animals’ noses and mouths puffing out white mist.
Just as he was thinking about having a good meal because of the snow, someone reined in a horse and stopped in front of the shop. He instinctively looked up.
"Second Brother Shen."
A rough voice called out, it was Luo Biao.
Shen Xuanqing set down the tangpozi and stood up, smiling. "When did you get back?"
In autumn, Luo Biao had come to bid him farewell again, saying he was going horse-trading and planned to return before winter. Sure enough, here he was.
Though Luo Biao was just a lowly guard in the horse caravan, he was doing quite well. With his strength and experience, the trip earlier that year had earned him nearly ten taels of silver. As a lone wanderer with no family to feed, ten taels was enough for a year’s living.
Luo Biao dismounted and laughed heartily. "Got back the day before yesterday. The caravan was selling horses in the prefectural city. Today, we came to the market at the east end of town to scout for business. I thought of you and came to see you."
The horse he’d ridden was of good quality. Shen Xuanqing stepped out to take a look.
Luo Biao’s thick beard covered half his face.
"It’s a fine horse," he said, patting the horse’s back. Then he grinned and asked, "Second Brother Shen, can you ride?"
Shen Xuanqing stroked the horse’s mane and smiled. "When I was learning martial arts, my master taught me to ride someone else’s horse. But it’s been years since I’ve touched one."
Horses were expensive. Ordinary folks couldn’t afford them. Luo Biao had only learned to ride during this horse-trading trip, taught by Qiu Laosan on the road.
He was reckless by nature and bold, unafraid of falls, so he learned quickly. While he couldn’t tame a wild stallion, he could handle a mild-tempered horse well enough.
Besides, in the dead of winter, who had time to tame wild horses? He wasn’t so idle. If he fell and broke an arm or leg, he’d have to spend money on treatment, what was the point of earning silver if it slipped through his fingers so quickly?
"This horse has a good temper. If you don’t mind, take it for a ride. It’s quite freeing," Luo Biao said, grinning. Then he added, "Before, I was stuck in this little town. This year, I went out and saw the world, mountains and rivers different from ours. The northern grasslands are vast. Now I can even ride a horse. Galloping is truly exhilarating."
Shen Xuanqing’s heart stirred, and he hesitated no longer. Taking the reins from Luo Biao, he mounted the horse in one fluid motion.
His movements were smooth and effortless. Luo Biao laughed loudly and tossed him the whip. "See, I knew Second Brother Shen could do it."
"Wait here. I’ll be back soon." Shen Xuanqing still remembered his horse-riding lessons from years ago. At first, his kicks and flicks of the whip were a bit rusty, but after riding down one street, he quickly got the hang of it.
The cold wind rushed against his face, but in his excitement, he didn’t feel it at all. He thought to himself how truly liberating this was. But galloping recklessly through the streets would give him a bad reputation, so he soon slowed down and trotted back.
If he could ride on the open roads outside town, or the northern grasslands Luo Biao mentioned, it must be even more exhilarating.
Shen Xuanqing pulled the reins, bringing the horse to a stop in front of the shop.
Luo Biao took the reins and said, "This horse is for sale. I just borrowed it to show off to you. I’d better return it now."
Shen Xuanqing smiled. "Come over for lunch at noon. We’re stewing meat today, and there’s a jug of good wine. Since you’re back, consider it a welcome feast."
"Great! I’ll definitely come," Luo Biao said before riding off.
It was snowing. Over the past few years back home, whenever it snowed, the family would take a day or half a day off and cook a good meal. Lu Gu had grown accustomed to it.
After feeding the mule at home, he bundled up the child snugly and headed out. They’d run out of meat the day before, so he wanted to see what Shen Xuanqing felt like eating today.
The cold kept the streets sparsely populated. Guaizi trotted ahead, pausing now and then to look back at them.
For Lingjun, this was practically his first time seeing falling snow. Lu Gu slowed his steps, catching a few snowflakes on his sleeve and showing them to the child.
Little Lingjun’s bright black eyes stared at his sleeve. When the snowflakes melted, he turned his face and let out an astonished "Oh!"
"This is snow. Snowflakes. Snow," Lu Gu said cheerfully, walking forward while teaching Lingjun to recognize things.
"Snow."
Hearing the child pronounce the word so clearly and accurately, he grew even happier. "Yes, yes! That’s snow!"
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